Jo Cockwill
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Starting counselling is often a relief, but it's normal to feel nervous sharing your inner thoughts and feelings with someone new. We will work at your pace to build a relationship where you can open up gradually about what is troubling you.
I offer weekly face-to-face counselling from private comfortable counselling rooms in the centre of Cheltenham. You can rely on me to be interested, curious, supportive and non-judgemental.
I work with neurotypical and neurodiverse clients, and have a particular interest in counselling people with autism, ADHD and dyslexia. Constant sensory overload, embarrassment and frustration over irrational social rules, and a deep sense of being deficient or misunderstood can create a lifelong backdrop of stress. Recognising that this is not a personality flaw, but is caused by the constant effort to 'mask' and adapt to a neurotypical world in order to feel acceptable and accepted, can be the start of discovering a more authentic resilient self.
I practice psychodynamic counselling. This is based on the idea that how we have coped with childhood emotions and relationships unconsciously sets the pattern for how we view ourself and others today. As we explore your reactions to current situations, you will notice that some of the familiar ways you avoid being emotionally harmed are no longer working for you. In fact, rather than still protecting you, they might now be adding to your difficulties. Working sensitively to surface habitual thoughts and feelings, and finding more compassionate and constructive ways of viewing yourself and your relationships, will be central to our work together.
Perhaps an environment of chaos, abuse or neglect, or a single shocking experience has left you traumatised? Feeling hypervigilant and fearful impacts your physical and psychological wellbeing and makes it much more difficult to think through and maintain perspective about present day events. I can help you learn safe but effective mind/body techniques to reduce or even remove the physical and mental impacts of trauma, so you can focus more clearly on the present issues you face.
My BACP membership is your guarantee that I am qualified as a counsellor and work ethically and professionally. My experience and training mean I can offer different perspectives on the things that are troubling you, but your life journey is unique. I believe that whatever your background, when you feel genuinely heard understood and valued you will discover your authentic voice, and feel more in control of your life.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling awarded by the Gloucestershire Counselling Service (GCS) after having completing a three year course accredited by the British Psychoanalytical Council (BPC).
I have undertaken further training in Time-limited Psychodynamic Counselling which allows me to work over an agreed number of weeks in a focussed way on a specific client issue. This approach requires a thorough initial assessment of suitability as it is not appropriate for all clients or all situations.
Nightmares may seriously disrupt restful sleep, and our peace of mind; particularly if we often wake in fear or confusion. Few people realise that nightmares can be treated very effectively - usually in just one of two sessions. I have been trained in Dream Completion Technique (DCT) by its developer, Dr Justin Havens. It is easy to do, and once learned, DCT can be used whenever nightmares arise - even as a symptom of trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I am fully trained to treat trauma safely and systematically. The approach I use is based on neurochemistry and our understanding of how trauma gets encoded in the brain. It uses touch to activate the brain's natural healing properties and disconnect the pathways that trigger physical and mental distress when trauma is present. This can permanently remove traumatic symptoms, increase emotional resilience and reduce the risk of future traumas occurring.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Nightmares
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Additional information
I charge a flat fee of £50 per 50 minute weekly session, including the initial consultation.
When I work
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